Given the terrain in the Philippines they can do with as many helicopters as they can lay their hands on. If the UH-1 are still serviceable then they should
keep them in service. Of course if it's a choice between acquiring operating newer types and keeping the Huey in service, then clearly the former is
preferable.

Ahoj!
OH - good news! More jobs retained in the Lublin area. The company has close ties with WestlandAugusta (who own c.7% and there's talk about them buying the
rest), if anybody wants to know ...
Borys

borys68 wrote:
Ahoj!
OH - good news! More jobs retained in the Lublin area. The company has close ties with WestlandAugusta (who own c.7% and there's talk about them buying
the rest), if anybody wants to know ...
Borys

Borys - Just out of curiosity, why does the helo to the right of the Sokol, have the Polish Air Force symbol at 90 degrees to the horizontal? (You understand,
of course, that this comes from decades of spotting British Union Flags flown the wrong way.)

The contract is valued at PHP2.8 billion (USD60 million) and includes integrated systems support, although delivery dates for the aircraft are not yet finalised, said spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner.

Despite the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) sending a notice of award letter to the helicopter manufacturer PZL Swidnik in late 2009, Lt Col Brawner said that the contract was still "waiting for final approval" from the DND. This approval, he indicated, would lead to certainty of delivery.

The procurement of the W-3 Sokol fulfils one half of long-standing helicopter requirements for the Philippines Air Force (PAF), which also needs a number of utility helicopters.

Additional UH-1H helicopters were expected to partly meet these demands and augment the PAF's existing fleet of this type of aircraft. In 2008 the Philippines commenced negotiations with its Southeast Asian neighbour Singapore over a potential purchase of 10 second-hand UH-1H aircraft for PHP400 million, although this procurement has since stalled due to a lack of available funds.

The PAF acquired 20 reconditioned UH-1H helicopters from Singapore in 2005 under a USD12 million deal signed one year earlier, and in 2007 the Philippines received 10 UH-1Hs from the US as part of another 20-unit programme.

However, Lt Col Brawner said that a new bid to purchase second-hand UH-1Hs had not progressed. "There is no ongoing project yet to procure Huey helicopters," he said. "It is dependent on budget."

The acquisitions of combat and additional utility helicopters stem from the first phase of the Philippines Capability Upgrade Programme, which initially allocated PHP6.2 billion to the respective purchases.

In November 2009 the Philippines government approved a Fiscal Year 2010 defence budget of PHP76.3 billion (USD1.6 billion) - a rise of around 13 per cent on FY09. Only PHP5 billion of this expenditure, however, is appropriated directly for procurement.

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is in the market for heavy guns as well as military trucks for the Philippine Army (PA) in line with its ongoing efforts to modernize the military.

While there was no mention of the exact amount allotted for the procurement, Defense Undersecretary Antonio Romero said they are looking forward to the purchase of 155mm howitzers for the Army.At present, the Army is heavily dependent on 105mm howitzers, which only have a maximum range of less than 12 kilometers (air distance), for its counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and anti-lawlessness campaign, especially in Mindanao.

The 155 mm howitzers, which have a range of 15 kilometers (air distance), will boost the Army’s reach into enemy lines, considering that most areas of conflict in the country are confined to rugged terrain.

Also being programmed for acquisition by the defense department are M35 military transport trucks to facilitate the mobility of Army troops on the ground.

But Romero admitted that in so far as the Army’s armor needs is concerned, it is unlikely that the department will program the purchase of heavy tanks since this fighting vehicle is designed to do combat in deserts and plains.

“Also, the country’s road networks and bridges have been designed for light and medium military tanks. If we purchase 60-ton heavy tanks our roads and bridges will be damaged because they are designed for 20-ton vehicles,” Romero said.

The defense department has already sealed a P2.8-billion deal with Poland for the acquisition of eight brand-new combat utility helicopters for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Delivery of the four units is expected to happen within a year.

Palace: No AFP midnight deal

Malacañang yesterday gave its full backing to the deal with Poland, saying it was a long overdue step towards the modernization of the Armed Forces.Deputy presidential spokesman Rogelio Peyuan said the deal was “definitely above board” and there is no sufficient reason for it to be blocked.Aside from the eight brand-new helicopters, the DND is also looking at Canada or France for the acquisition of fighter jets, which the Air Force also needs.

“For now only Canada has a funding scheme for us if we are going to purchase fighter jets from them,” Romero said.

The Philippine Navy is also procuring two MRVs (multi-role vessels), at P5 billion each.

“We fully back the position of the Secretary of National Defense. His office is open to those who have concerns (regarding the acquisition). The documents are available for the proper scrutiny of anyone who’s interested to find out the transparency of the purchase of these choppers,” Peyuan told reporters.“It (deal) is not an overnight idea. We’ve been hearing this modernization thing of the Armed Forces and the entire defense system even during the time of President Fidel Ramos,” he said.Peyuan urged Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to support the acquisition once he assumes the presidency on June 30.He said defense officials involved in the deal would be able to justify the purchase.“(The government) has already started attending to the modernization efforts of the AFP. So, I would think that the entire defense organization and the AFP will be presenting the same position to the incoming leadership in due time,” Peyuan said. – Paolo Romero

So the Philippines are looking to buy CF-18s as the RCAF transitions to F-35s?

Or does the RCAF have a bunch of F-5s in storage?

“…Science as it is really practiced, caught up in the turmoil of personalities, with Truth always out of reach, and truths too often limping along, wounded in the turf wars and drive-bys of gangs of Ph.D.-totin’ grant-heads.”
Orson Scott Card: “Future on Ice”

That was basically my question... just what fighters would Canada have to sell? Are they acting as an agent for some particular manufacturer or other nation?

CFAC, not RCAF... got it.

“…Science as it is really practiced, caught up in the turmoil of personalities, with Truth always out of reach, and truths too often limping along, wounded in the turf wars and drive-bys of gangs of Ph.D.-totin’ grant-heads.”
Orson Scott Card: “Future on Ice”